Question

Led by three young Black Minorca pullets, the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon’s wishes. Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs, which smashed to pieces on the floor. Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. He ordered the hens’ rations to be stopped, and decreed that any animal giving so much as a grain of corn to a hen should be punished by death. The dogs saw to it that these orders were carried out. For five days the hens held out, then they capitulated and went back to their nesting boxes. Nine hens had died in the meantime.

–Animal Farm,
George Orwell

Which statement best infers Orwell’s purpose in writing this passage?

The author wants to portray the ruthlessness of a dictator.
The author wants to expose the dangers in disobeying orders.
The author wants to show that it is useless to rebel against authority.
The author wants to reveal the foolishness of destroying your own property.

Answer 1

The statement that best infers Orwell’s purpose in writing this passage is:

**The author wants to portray the ruthlessness of a dictator.**

This is evident from the extreme measures taken by Napoleon to suppress the hens' rebellion, including the punishment of death for anyone assisting them and the drastic reduction of their rations, leading to the death of several hens.